- Biomedical Instrumentation & Signal Analysis
- Alzheimer's and Other Neurological Disorders
- Electrovestibulography (EVestG)
- Immersive Virtual Reality as a Cognitive Treatment tool for Alzheimer’s Disease
- Memory Exercise Study
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
- Rehabilitation: Plasticity of the Spinal Neural Circuitry after Injury
Price Faculty of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (BME) at UM is not confined to a single faculty or department, but rather results from the goodwill, combined strength, coordinated efforts and joint administration of the faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine. The program admits students from a wide variety of backgrounds, leading to MSc, PhD and MD-PhD degrees, as well as undergraduate specialties.
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
Program highlights
Biomedical Engineering at the University of Manitoba is a graduate program toward M.Sc., Ph.D. degrees and/or MD/PhD. It is a multidisciplinary program between the three faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Science.
The main innovative feature of this program is not its concept nor its content -there are many other similar programs in North America- but its functional design; the proposed program will be created not by the creation of a new faculty or department, but by the goodwill, combined strength, coordinated efforts and joint administration of the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine. Another innovative feature of the proposed program is its admission's flexibility: the program admits students from a wide variety of backgrounds, and tailor each student's program by taking their particular background into account. This results in a flexible, student-centered BME program that meets the degree objectives and accountability criteria of the Institution.
The main research areas of the program includes but not limited to: medical instrumentation and sensors, biological signal processing, biomedical image processing and reconstruction, gait analysis and rehabilitation, biophotonics, orthopaedic mechanics, neurocognitive science, non-invasive diagnosis of neurological disorders.
Graduate programs
The graduate programs in BME are innovative, flexible and student-centred, offering opportunities to undertake research supervised by leaders in the field.
Current student resources
Biomedical Engineering students can access opportunities, supports and resources from the Biomedical Engineering program, the Price Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and UM.
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Academic Calendar
Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions for required and elective courses throughout the Biomedical Engineering programs.
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Supplemental Regulations (PDF)
The Supplemental Regulations contain the formal academic regulations governing Faculty of Graduate Studies programs generally and Biomedical Engineering programs in particular.
Finding a graduate studies advisor
Before submitting an application for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, you must first find an academic advisor who will accept you into their research group. The advisor will initially review your academic background, research intent, previous experience and CV and may grant tentative acceptance into the program.
How to find an advisor
To find an advisor prior to application, you must contact a faculty member whose research area aligns with your own interests. BME faculty members, and links to their research areas, can be found on the Biomedical Engineering faculty and staff page. Please contact faculty members by email, and include the following:
- A current CV including publications, posters and conference participation; honours, awards and acknowledgements; and jobs pertaining to BME, Engineering, Medical, Biology and Chemistry, with brief descriptions of what you did in each job
- All post-secondary transcripts
- A statement of research intent summarizing your proposed research project (two pages max). If you have several research interests, please customize your statement for each faculty member you are interested in working with.
If you do not hear back in about eight weeks, that professor may not be interested in your application at this time.
Please note that tentative acceptance from an advisor does not guarantee admission into the program.
Faculty members looking for research students
Several of our faculty members are actively seeking graduate students to work with them. However many others not listed here are generally open to working with new students. Find a full list of Biomedical Engineering faculty members on our Faculty and staff page.
Rasit Eskicioglu
My research interests are primarily in Experimental Systems. I am interested in computer systems; systems software; operating systems; distributed, cluster and grid computing; high speed network interconnects, mobile networks, and pervasive computing. Most recently, I am looking at wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and their applications to real world problems indoor localization, monitoring, and tracking; and Internet of Things (IoT). My current projects are:
- Gait monitoring and analysis thru Body Area Networks
- Integrating WSN to Building Information Models
- Object localization, tracking, and monitoring in built environments
Song Liu
The Liu Group has openings for self-motivated PhD students. The positions involve research on the synthesis of novel antimicrobial magnetic nanoparticles, the synthesis of block-polymer based nanoparticles with selective binding affinity with bacteria and the fabrication of core-shell nanofibrous membranes for targeted and responsive drug delivery.
Katinka Stecina
I am currently accepting applications from qualified students for MSc studies. Current research projects are in the following areas:
- Mature spinal networks in rodents
- Key serotonergic neurons involved in walking
- The role of connexin36 in the mature nervous system
- Propriospinal networks contributing to locomotor activity generated in the lumbar spinal cord
- Human electrophysiology research
Hagar Labouta
There are current opportunities for graduate students in the area of nanomedicine with projects focusing on the use of nanoparticles to breach the biological barriers. Students with prior research experience/publications and experience in cell culture techniques are encouraged to apply.
Frederick A. Zeiler
Currently there are opportunities for both MSc and PhD students in BME, with projects focused on cerebral physiologic signal acquisition and processing healthy and traumatic brain injury patients. Students with interests/backgrounds in engineering, signal processing, computer science, medical and biological sciences are encouraged to apply.
Tabrez Siddiqui
The Siddiqui laboratory is interested in learning how nerve cell connections known as “synapses” form and function in the developing and adult brain. Synapses are the fundamental units for information processing in the brain. Evidence from genetic studies, animal models and post-mortem human tissue indicate impairment of synapse development and synaptic dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Asher Mendelson
This is an exciting opportunity that provides experience in critical care, biomedical optics, microvascular physiology, and signals analysis. The student will have exposure to the clinical environment at Health Sciences Centre in the Intensive Care Unit. The project will utilize non-invasive tissue spectroscopy for microvascular perfusion monitoring, using first-in-Canada equipment. Student must be comfortable with programming (MatLab, Python, R).
Hagar Labouta
Available Position for a Graduate Student or a Postdoctoral Fellow in Nanomedicine and Microfluidics
We are looking for a passionate graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow to work in a friendly and a collaborative environment under supervision of Dr. Hagar Labouta, Assistant Professor at the College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Canada.
This is a funded position for an interesting project on understanding nanoparticle interactions with the placenta using dynamic organ-on-a-chip models. Candidates should have a background on microfluidics and/or molecular biology and/or biomedical engineering. Experience with cell culture techniques is advantageous. Experience in nanoparticle design is an asset but not mandatory. The ideal candidate should have high degree of motivation, organization, work ethics, independency and teamwork.
The College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada has a long history of excellence in pharmacy education and research. It is a part of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, situated on a dynamic campus that provides opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in health sciences research and education. Winnipeg is the largest city in the Province of Manitoba. The city has a rich cultural environment, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, symphony, opera, theatre, and ethnic festivals. Besides supporting professional hockey, football, and baseball teams, the region provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation in all seasons.
Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2021, via email to hagar.labouta@umanitoba.ca and must include: full CV, a statement of intent, all transcripts, name and contact information of three academic referees (including previous supervisor, if applicable). Shortlisted candidates will only be contacted.
Biomedical research
The main research areas within BME include: medical instrumentation and sensors, biological signal processing, biomedical image processing and reconstruction, gait analysis and rehabilitation, biophotonics, orthopaedic mechanics, and non-invasive diagnosis of neurological disorders.
Our members
BME members have an established and funded program of research, which includes funding for students.
You can learn more about our adjunct and affiliate members on the Price Faculty of Engineering Faculty and staff page.
Become a BME Member
BME Membership eligibility, at the core or adjunct levels, requires the following status at the University of Manitoba.
Applicants who hold a PhD and an academic appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Engineering, Science, or Psychology Department and who have shown clear intent to take on graduate students in BME program or to serve on a committee of a BME graduate student committee and/or teaching a BME core course are eligible for Core or Adjunct membership in the BME Program
Rights & responsibilities of a member
- BME members who are on the staff of an organization, university, or other institution not a part of the University of Manitoba may not supervise the thesis of a student who is an employee or an employee on leave, if the employee and BME member are directly involved in a supervisor/supervisee (supervisor/supervisee) relationship from the same organization, university or other institution.
- BME Members may participate in the formulation and execution of policies in the BME Program.
- BME Core Members will be a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
- BME Members are responsible for maintaining a high level of ethical practice, scholarship, and research during his/her appointment. BME Members advice on the choice of thesis topics for graduate students, and in the management of their students and student’s environment should be of a standard consistent with the philosophy and practice of the BME Program.
- If a BME Member finds that he/she is unable to continue to perform the duties associated with the appointment he/she should then relinquish the appointment.
- BME Members are encouraged to apply, where applicable, for external research grants to appropriate agencies (e.g. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Research Manitoba, MITACS etc.) to support their graduate research programs and students.
- BME Members are expected to acknowledge their affiliation with the BME program at the University of Manitoba in all publications and scholarly works resulting from their BME appointment.
- The appointments of BME Members may not be renewed if there is evidence that the Member has not participated in any BME activity for a period of 3 years or more.
- The appointment of a BME Member may be summarily discontinued for cause.
It is the responsibility of the Director (or delegate) to supervise and monitor the work of BME Members. Any inadequacies in the duties and/or performance of a BME member should be brought to the attention of the Director (or delegate) of the BME program and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies and may result in the termination of the BME appointment. Where appropriate, the Director (or delegate) may consult members or students of the BME program to ensure that students are being treated professionally and appropriately.
Membership type & roles
Core Membership
Duties
- May serve as supervisors for graduate students (co-supervisor is not necessary)
- May serve on student committees.
Additional Membership Requirements
- General Membership Requirements
- Must have an established and funded program of research (which includes funding for students) with demonstrated and ongoing involvement in BME research and HQP training.
Workload
- Core Members have Home Departments and therefore, report to their Home Department Head regarding job duties and work load
- Core Members will report to the BME Program's Director concerning BME associated duties. The BME Program's Director will make recommendations to the Core Member's Department Head with regards to workload compensation of duties associated with the BME program.
Adjunct Membership
Duties
- May serve as supervisors for graduate students (co-supervisor who is a core-member required)
- May serve on student committees
- Applicants must meet General Membership Requirements. Adjuncts who later meet the funding requirement may switch to a Core Member.
Affiliate Membership
Duties
- May not serve as a supervisor or a co-supervisor
- May serve as additional members on student committees in order to provide necessary expertise.
Membership Requirements
If you do not meet General Membership Requirements, you must hold a PhD, M.Sc. (or equivalent) in Engineering, Science or Medicine or an MD (or equivalent) and have expertise or an interest in BME related research to be considered.
Biomedical research labs
Biomedical researchers at UM work in cutting-edge facilities on our Bannatyne and Fort Garry campuses. Please contact us to arrange an appointment if you would like to visit any of our facilities.
Volunteers needed
Volunteer research participants are critical to any treatment development or research. The Volunteer research participant's comments, reactions, statements and observations guide us in modifying and developing treatments and tests, and to better understand the needs of the volunteer research participant's community. You can make a difference and help shape the care and treatment of those in you community by volunteering!
Alzheimer's treatment volunteers needed
Do you have a beloved family member or know someone with probable Alzheimer’s? If yes, you may wish to enrol them in this treatment clinical trial.
This study, approved by the University of Manitoba Biomedical Research Ethics Board, uses a novel technology called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive procedure with minimal side-effects. Our offices are located at Riverview Health Centre.
Please feel free to contact us for more information. We appreciate an opportunity to answer your questions.
Dr. Zahra Moussavi
Tel: 204-478-6163
Email: Zahra.Moussavi@umanitoba.ca
Dr. Cristina Francisco
Tel: 204-478-6163
Email: Cristina.Francisco@umanitoba.ca
Healthy seniors needed
Electrovestibulography (EVestG) technology has been applied towards diagnosis of and separation of Parkinson disease (PD) / Schizophrenia / Depression (Unipolar vrs Bipolar) / Meniere's Disease / Controls [6-19]. Sensitivities and specificities so far have been typically above 85%. EVestG is used as an objective technique for analyzing brain signals to detect neurological and mood disorders compared to healthy brain signals.
We need healthy volunteers, 60 year of age or older, to examine the accuracy of results.
Please feel free to contact us for more information. We appreciate an opportunity to answer your questions.
Dr. Zeinab Dastgheib
Tel: 204-229-3923
Email: Zeinab.Dastgheib@umanitoba.ca
Contact us
Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering
Room E2-390 EITC
75 Chancellor's Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5V6
204-474-9603